Saudi Chief of Staff meets his Bahraini counterpart at the World Defence Exhibition
In the context of strengthening the deep-rooted fraternal relations and joint cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain, His Excellency Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, met on Sunday with his Bahraini counterpart, His Excellency Lieutenant General Dhiyab bin Saqr Al-Nuaimi. This important meeting took place on the sidelines of the World Defence Exhibition 2026, organized by the General Authority for Military Industries in the Kingdom, a leading global platform that brings together defense leaders and decision-makers from around the world.
Strategic dimensions of Saudi-Bahraini relations
These discussions are a continuation of the long history of joint cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries, based on a shared destiny and common strategic objectives under the umbrella of the Gulf Cooperation Council. These meetings are of particular importance given the current regional and international challenges, which necessitate raising the level of military and security coordination to ensure the stability of the region and protect its achievements. During the meeting, a comprehensive review of existing defense and military cooperation relations was conducted, and ways to develop and strengthen them in various fields were discussed, in a manner that serves the common interests of the two brotherly countries.
World Defence Exhibition: A platform for innovation and localization
The World Defence Exhibition is an exceptional event reflecting the ambitions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the military industries sector. The exhibition aims to showcase the latest advancements in military technology across land, sea, and air defense, as well as the space and security sectors. It provides an ideal opportunity to exchange expertise and learn about the latest sophisticated defense systems, thereby contributing to enhancing the combat readiness of the armed forces.
Following the meeting, Lieutenant General Fayyad Al-Ruwaili accompanied his Bahraini counterpart on a tour of several pavilions at the exhibition. Both sides were briefed on the latest military equipment and technologies presented by local and international companies, reflecting the rapid advancements in modern warfare technologies and smart systems.
Vision 2030 and the localization of military industries
This global event is in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which places great importance on localizing military industries, as the Kingdom seeks to localize more than 50% of military spending by 2030. The exhibition directly contributes to supporting and developing local military industries to meet the highest international quality standards and specifications, as well as its role in transferring knowledge and localizing the manufacturing of complementary materials through building strategic partnerships with major global arms manufacturers.
